Architects aim to create a 'fantastice place' at the Woolston Riverside vacated by shipbuilders VT. But their vision must incorporate affordable housing, suggests a new poll. Gareth Lewis and Laura Grant report...

FOR the people of Woolston, the redevelopment of Vosper Thornycroft's old site promises the biggest new lease of life for the area since the Itchen Bridge builders came to town.

The 31-acre facility was snapped up by the South East England Develop-ment Agency for £15m following shipbuilder VT's decision to quit the city earlier this year. They had been at the site for 100 years.

Although concrete planning proposals will not be unveiled until January, the Richard Rogers Partnership, architects behind the Millennium Dome and other high profile projects, are now designing a scheme of "world-class significance".

Their big plan is to marry marine industry and housing on the riverfront site.

Or, as the partnership's Andy Young puts it: "Our aspiration is that this should be a fantastic place. It is quite feasible that there could be beautiful houses and apartments that live in harmony with job-creating heavy industry."

As many as 1,500 houses could spring up where once there were warship construction sheds.

It has also been suggested that as much as 40 per cent of the site could be given over to businesses making use of the precious deep water quay retained from its ship building days.

But is this what locals want? An earlier public consultation carried out by SEEDA revealed mixed feelings, though the swift regeneration of the site was broadly welcomed. Many residents also wanted to retain access to the river - something historically denied by the VT complex.

Meanwhile, "every shade of opinion" appeared to be expressed during the survey, according to the resulting report.

A new Daily Echo survey, which canvassed opinion across a wide cross-section of residents, reveals housing tops the list of local wishes by a mile.

Not only that but, fed-up with seeing rocketing property prices, people want to see affordable housing created on the site. Well over a third of Woolston locals quizzed in the Daily Echo survey put affordable housing right at the top of their list when asked to choose between five options.

At present, the developers say it has yet to be decided how many houses will actually be built, although the upper limit is around 1,500. Government rules mean at least 25 per cent will have to be affordable housing and the council is angling for even more.

"We are delighted that the response to the Echo survey is in accordance with the way we desire to bring the site forward," said SEEDA head of land and property Ken Glendinning.

"There is a city-wide priority for the provision of affordable housing and this site is seen as a windfall opportunity to do that."

SEEDA visited Amsterdam to view waterfront housing and projects in Barcelona to see good examples of what could be achieved.

Woolston Ward councillor David Simpson added: "We are pushing for more than the 25 per cent and I think we are going to get more like 40 per cent. That's what we are hoping for.

"We are going to get something special out of it and I am very impressed with what's going on. It is going to be really good for Woolston."

The architects aim to mix in affordable housing with other homes in a series of low-rise townhouses with river views.

However, some locals fear the picture postcard future may not emerge.

Woolston resident John Cook, of Peartree Avenue, has bad memories of the damage he says the Itchen Bridge inflicted on the area and is anxious to see residents get a better deal this time.

He said: "In 1976 the bridge was built, the ferry was taken away, and the road was to bypass Woolston completely. Trade was to suffer - a lot of it died away forever to say nothing of the years of grime, noise, traffic diversions and inconvenience.

"In my view, about one per cent of the total development should be spent on supplying a facility to the area and the town. A fully-equipped ice rink could fit the bill."

One in five of the people quizzed by the Echo agreed that amenities such as an ice rink, swimming pool or leisure centre should be first on the planning brief.

But people are more inclined to put public open space such as parks and riverside walks at the heart of the development.

Ken Glendinning said: "One of the things that came out of the public consultation was the area's desire to have meaningful access to the water and a realistic public realm within the development.

"It is a pretty clear indication that residents have given us and we will focus on that area in the scheme."

Meanwhile the Chamber of Commerce has previously attacked the scheme citing "fundamental concerns" about the priority of housing over business and the uses planned for the precious waterside aspect of the site.